Constructing a future for Soldiers, community

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Jodi Newby | Detour signs guide drivers around road construction and other project obstacles near Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind. where local contractors and military leaders are working together to improve the 1,100 acre training facility and the local economy.  

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, UNITED STATES

01.15.2009

Story by Sgt. Maj. Jodi Newby 

Camp Atterbury Indiana

By Sgt. Maj. Jodie Newby
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

Local contractors are working through the winter months at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind., improving both the 1,100-acre Homeland Security training site and the economy of the surrounding communities as construction projects continue.

The construction efforts are apparent with detour signs, construction equipment, and an increase in traffic through local towns, but as Maj. Montell Johnson II, the director of the department of public works at MUTC explained, these projects are "a boost in local jobs" given the current state of the national economy.

"The only way the projects we have affect the public is jobs," Johnson said. "Our construction on this site has brought a lot of contractor money into the area. We currently have two of the larger contractors in the area working on the site, plus smaller firms contracted to the larger firms are also from the area."

Johnson said the number of contracts will continue to expand as MUTC builds on what is fast-becoming a premier location for realistic homeland security training of civil and military organizations throughout the country.

"Right now there are four major projects and three smaller ones," Johnson said. "We are working on force protection projects with new gates and fencing and high-end security cameras, building large metal rubble buildings designed to look destroyed for a 'Demolition of a City Site' and refurbishing buildings for barracks."

Smaller projects ongoing at MUTC include making changes to existing buildings and roads to better suit the needs of people training on the site. Johnson gave an example of these projects as a change to the road network where they are putting in a training overpass that can be used by Soldiers to train on identifying and handling IEDs that Soldiers see in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. Scott Hardesty, the community relations officer for Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck, said these and all MUTC projects are coordinated with the environmental specialist and local community leaders during the planning phase to minimize impact on the public.

"The first thing we do is look at the schedules to avoid festivals and community events. Then we check on school routes and contact the local government to work with them," he said. "The goal is to make things as easy as possible on the public and at least make them aware of anything that would impact them."

That goal is accomplished through the use of community advisories sent out to local radio and news organizations when changes occur. They also are posted on the MUTC Web site where a current message posted states, "The Brush Creek Reservoir will be closed starting Jan. 1 through Feb. 7, 2009. The public access ramp also will be closed."

The system appears to be working if calls to the MUTC switchboard operator are any indication.

"I haven't really had to deal with any questions on road closing or complaints in that area," said Greg Holt, a switchboard operator at MUTC.

"I can answer those questions or refer callers as needed to provide that [construction] information."

Both Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck's Web sites offer information for the communities about events and training as they occur as well as contact information for the public to ask questions or voice concerns about ongoing activities.

Another public message posted on the MUTC Web site reads, "We are committed to building positive relationships with the communities surrounding our installations, as we too are members of this community."

Construction projects will continue as Camp Atterbury and Muscatatuck expand their abilities to offer the most realistic training possible for civil and military organizations around the world, as will the military leadership's efforts to work with and for the communities around them.

"The ultimate goal," Johnson said of these efforts, "is to reduce potential conflicts while accommodating necessary growth and sustaining the economic health of the area."

• Date Taken: 01.15.2009
• Date Posted: 01.15.2009 15:22
• Story ID: 28890
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US